Report: Lin headed to Houston

FILE - This Feb. 24, 2012 file photo shows New York Knicks' Jeremy Lin laughing during warmups before the start of the NBA All-Star Rising Stars Challenge basketball game in Orlando, Fla. This would have been such an easy decision in February. Lin was the biggest thing in basketball, and no way the Knicks would have let him go elsewhere. Now, knowing his price and with no assurance he'll play as he did when Linsanity reigned, the Knicks may allow Lin to leave for Houston. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)
— AP

FILE - This Feb. 24, 2012 file photo shows New York Knicks' Jeremy Lin laughing during warmups before the start of the NBA All-Star Rising Stars Challenge basketball game in Orlando, Fla. This would have been such an easy decision in February. Lin was the biggest thing in basketball, and no way the Knicks would have let him go elsewhere. Now, knowing his price and with no assurance he'll play as he did when Linsanity reigned, the Knicks may allow Lin to leave for Houston. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)
/ AP

Houston, meanwhile, jumped at the chance to reacquire their popularity in China, where Yao Ming became a larger-than-life figure. Many Rockets landed lucrative shoe contracts with Chinese companies on Yao's coattails and Rockets' games drew massive television ratings there.

While Lin is an American success story, Schwab thinks he would reopen in-roads the team established during Yao's eight seasons (2002-11).

"Teams base their decisions on wins and losses, because wins and losses ultimately affect ticket sales, sponsorships," Schwab said. "I still think it's a win-loss decision, but I think, in their case, it's weighed more as a marketing decision. They've got more to gain right now, with a decade of Yao and companies they've done business with. They've got kind of the next frontier there."